A Kent killer spell finished Hampshire's Liberty Trophy aspirations at Camberley just when it seemed Peter Line's men were destined to reach the semi-finals.

"Their burst decided the match," admitted Hampshire boss Line. "Some of the Kent skips bowled some very good woods during that vital period and it put them 16 shots up.

"To our credit we fought back well in the closing stages but the deficit was too much to pull back, he added after Hampshire's 121-113 defeat."

That purple patch in the last quarter of the game swept aside a slender Hampshire lead and sent Kent 113-97 ahead, the biggest margin to separate the sides throughout this intriguing quarter-final.

Line praised John Barter for an excellent performance at lead for Graham Standley, the skip also shining in Hampshire's 24-15 success against Martyn Sekjer.

Peter Hobday, switched to Peter Ward's quartet, certainly beefed up a rink which saw opposing skip Gary Smith have more luck with his driving woods than he deserved.

Ward, 12-5 in front at 12 ends, eventually came from behind to win 17-16 with four shots on the final two ends.